Build Your Ideal Sensory-Safe Restaurant
Build Your Nervous System’s Perfect Restaurant
ENVIRONMENT
LIGHTING
□ Warm lighting
□ Dim lighting
□ Bright enough to see food clearly
□ Natural lighting
□ No fluorescent buzzing
□ Candlelight feels calming
□ Booth shadows feel safe
□ Other: ____________________
NOISE LEVEL
□ Quiet enough to think
□ Soft background music
□ Predictable sound levels
□ No sudden yelling/birthday songs
□ No blenders screaming every 14 seconds
□ Loud enough nobody can hear me chew
□ Busy restaurant noise feels regulating
□ Other: ____________________
CROWD LEVEL
□ Nearly empty
□ Mildly busy
□ Full restaurants feel exciting
□ No long lines
□ Waiting area seating
□ Easy parking
□ Minimal social chaos
□ Other: ____________________
SMELL PROFILE
□ Warm bread smell
□ Fryer smell comforting
□ Coffee smell calming
□ Mild food smells only
□ Strong smells overwhelm me
□ Seafood smell difficult
□ Vinegar smell upsetting
□ Artificial cleaning smells upsetting
□ Other: ____________________
MENU SAFETY FEATURES
SAFE MENU CHARACTERISTICS
□ Photos of food help
□ Ingredient lists help
□ Build-your-own meals
□ Sauce on the side options
□ Plain food available without judgment
□ Consistent menu year-round
□ Breakfast all day
□ Safe side dishes available
□ Kid’s menu portions help
□ Easy substitutions
□ Other: ____________________
SAFE FOOD CATEGORIES
□ Fries
□ Chicken tenders
□ Rice bowls
□ Pasta
□ Soup
□ Bread
□ Breakfast foods
□ Burgers
□ Grilled cheese
□ Smoothies
□ Desserts
□ Safe drinks
□ Other: ____________________
SOCIAL SAFETY
STAFF INTERACTIONS
□ Friendly staff
□ Staff who don’t question modifications
□ Fast ordering process
□ Low eye contact required
□ Online ordering available
□ Drive-thru available
□ Self checkout kiosks
□ No pressure to “try something new”
□ Other: ____________________
SENSORY ACCOMMODATIONS
PHYSICAL COMFORT
□ Booth seating
□ Corner tables
□ Soft chairs
□ Outdoor seating
□ Predictable temperature
□ No TVs blasting sports
□ Easy bathroom access
□ No sticky tables
□ Plenty of personal space
□ Other: ____________________
MY SAFE ORDER
RESTAURANT: ____________________
SAFE ORDER: ____________________
WHY IT WORKS:
WHAT TEXTURES FEEL SAFE:
□ Crispy
□ Soft
□ Warm
□ Cold
□ Crunchy
□ Uniform
□ Dry
□ Smooth
□ Chewy
□ Other: ____________________
EMOTIONAL RATING:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
PREDICTABILITY:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
POST-MELTDOWN SAFETY:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
